Sarah provides advice and assistance to Registered Providers, Local Authorities and private landlord on all aspects of housing management. This includes drafting of tenancy agreement and licenses, possession proceedings, injunction applications, disrepair, hoarding and succession.

Sarah regularly attends client events, and delivers bespoke training.

Sarah also has a keen interest in Court of Protection matters after handling a hoarding possession claim, which progressed for Best Interest decisions to be made. Sarah often assists the Court of Protection team in attending hearings, which predominately deal with Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications.

Sarah joined Clarke Willmott in 2011 after working as a Housing Supervisor under a Legal Aid Contract for the You Trust. Whilst working at the You Trust, Sarah managed the Housing Court Desk service at the County Court at Portsmouth and Basingstoke and therefore has a unique insight, having defended tenants in relation to possession claims and injunction proceedings.

Experience

Hoarding: progressed a possession case to the Court of Protection in order for there to be Best Interest decisions made on behalf of the tenant. This enabled crucial cyclical works to be completed in the property, and for there to be a support plan in place to ensure ongoing needs of the tenant are met.

Complex cases: dealing and handling with matters where there are a number of issues involved. This has included attending late night meetings with surrounding neighbours to provide reassurance as to the process involved.

Equality Act Defences: secured an outright order for possession in a case where tenant lacked capacity and has been sectioned, this was in spite of an Equality Act Defence citing disability discrimination.

Injunction Applications: Obtaining without notice injunction orders against tenants, which excluded them from their home. Due to severity of violence, an immediate possession order was also obtained, on an expedited basis.

Closure Orders: Assisting the Metropolitan police to obtain a closure Order, on the basis of illicit drugs being used. Mandatory claim for possession obtained following the Closure Order.